oa Foreword

The ninth birthday of Current Drug Delivery is being celebrated by the publication of a hot topic issue entitled, “Functional Complementation, Molecular Targeted Strategies, and Chemo/ Immuno-Sensitization in Cancer Treatment: Hurdles and Solutions”. Our being guest edited by A.R. Jazirehi, UCLA School of Medicine. He has contributed with an interesting article describing novel approaches to modulating apoptosis resistance and provides a comprehensive discussion of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Other articles deal with molecular targeted therapies for melanoma, strategies for targeting cancer stem cells, the clinical use of rituximab to treat HIV related lymphoma and multicentric Castleman's disease. We also learn about the use of specific monoclonal antibodies to target immunogenic tumor membrane proteins in patients with recurrent pancreatic and colon cancer. In the general section, the issue describes the use of microneedles as transdermal delivery systems in combination with other strategies, a dual controlled release method used in dental medications, the use of botulinum toxin in prostate disease, an interesting formulation of chitosan/poly-(glutamic acid) for intestinal delivery of lansoprazole and an interesting coating of 5-fluorouracil tablets to treat colorectal cancer. I am sure that the articles will generate great interest.